“A sandbar with nothing on it — no trees, no shade, no buildings — floating in turquoise water with a volcanic cone rising behind it. It shifts shape with the tides and seasons and is technically underwater at the highest points.”
About White Island
Formed by volcanic sediment from Camiguin's seven volcanoes — more volcanoes per square kilometre than any other Philippine island. The nearby Sunken Cemetery was submerged when Mount Vulcan erupted in 1871.
Overview A sandbar in the middle of the ocean off the north coast of Camiguin island — no trees, no buildings, no shade, just white sand surrounded by turquoise water with the volcanic cone of Mount Hibok-Hibok rising behind it. It appears and disappears with the tides and shifts shape with the seasons. It's one of those places that looks too perfect to be real and then you get there and it is.
It appears and disappears with the tides and shifts shape with the seasons.
The Story Behind It Camiguin is a volcanic island with more volcanoes per square kilometre than any other island in the Philippines — seven volcanoes on an island only 238 square kilometres. White Island is a sandbar formed by volcanic sediment and coral sand deposited by currents. It has no permanent structures because it's technically underwater during the highest tides. The island is also near the Sunken Cemetery — a graveyard submerged when Mount Vulcan erupted in 1871 and the ground sank, now marked by a large cross rising from the sea.
What You'll Experience Outrigger boats from Mambajao take about 15 minutes. The boatmen drop you on the sandbar and wait. The sand is blinding white and the water is warm and clear. There is absolutely nothing there — no vendors, no structures, no shade. You swim, you stand on a sandbar in the middle of the sea with a volcano behind you, and that's the experience. Bring your own shade and water because there is literally none.
Getting There Flights from Cebu to Camiguin Airport take about 30 minutes. From Mambajao, the boat launch for White Island is at Guinsiliban — about 20 minutes by scooter. The outrigger ride is 15 minutes and costs about 300-500 pesos shared.
Getting There Flights from Cebu to Camiguin Airport take about 30 minutes.
The Experience
Take an outrigger boat to a sandbar in the middle of the sea, swim in turquoise water with Mount Hibok-Hibok as your backdrop, and accept that there is absolutely nothing there except sand and ocean.
Why It Matters
The visual centrepiece of Camiguin island and one of the most photographed natural formations in the Philippines.
Why Visit
Sometimes the simplest places are the best. A sandbar, clear water, a volcano — nothing else. It's the purest version of a Philippine beach experience.
✦ Insider Tips
- 1
Bring your own shade — there is literally none on the sandbar.
- 2
Wear reef shoes. The sand gets extremely hot.
- 3
Go early morning before the sun gets punishing. By noon it's brutal.
- 4
Combine with the Sunken Cemetery — the cross rising from the sea is a 10-minute boat ride away.
